The Center for Reproductive Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the ACLU of Arkansas filed a new lawsuit in federal district court today challenging four abortion restrictions passed in Arkansas this year. Specifically, the lawsuit—which was filed on behalf of a women’s health care provider in federal district court—challenges a ban on one of the safest and most common methods of ending a pregnancy in the second trimester as well as a host of restrictions that force doctors to notify others--including family members--of a woman’s abortion. Many of the measures could impose significant, if not indefinite, delays on a woman’s ability to access to abortion and miscarriage care. In short, these laws could effectively end abortion care in the state for many women.

Representatives of ARTICLE 19, Amnesty International, Index on Censorship, Norwegian PEN and PEN International will be attending the hearing in order to demonstrate solidarity with the defendants, and with media freedom more broadly in Turkey. The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales and the International Senior Lawyers Project are also sending observers to the hearing.

Reproductive health and human rights advocates advocated for the decriminalization of abortion before the main human rights body for the Americas today in a hearing on the status of Chile’s abortion law reform.

“The cruel and short-sighted cuts to basic health care programs included in this budget will cause irreparable harm to millions at home and abroad. From targeting women and men who seek basic health care at Planned Parenthood to zeroing out life-saving international family planning assistance, this budget is an insult to women’s health and dignity. Congress must reject this ugly attack on women’s health and rights”